When Things are not OK

       Right after a person greets you, they may ask something to the affect as to how you are doing.  When it happens to me, which is many times, I usually answer with those two letters, "OK."    I may substitute something like, "all right" or "fine" but it all has the same meaning.  In reality, I may not be doing so well but people really don't have the time to sit an listen to all of the things in your life that are getting you down.  Many things that happen to all of us are what we consider part of the territory.  That is, this is what happens when you live and get older.  Some may even turn their backs upon God and due to embarrassment decide to abandon church or church people.  Deuteronomy 4:30-31 says, " When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them."
        I knew a man who had been a member of a church for a long time and who was rather faithful in attendance.  Something happened with one of his children and the man began to refrain from coming to church.  He probably was a little ashamed and felt that it would lower people's estimation of him if they found out so he just stayed away.  It finally got so bad that the individual took his own life.  When things happen to us that need the comfort of God and even other believers, we should turn to the LORD faithfully and not be concerned with what others think.  We don't have to respond with the typical "OK" when asked how we are.  We can tell it like it is.  We have times in our lives when we just fail to express our feelings at the time and so don't want to take up people's time and would rather just say "OK" than tell them how it really is.  Deuteronomy instructs us to respond in a certain way when tribulation comes upon us, and it does.  Tribulation happens in many lives each day and people seem to be at a loss as to what to do.  God has spoken the answer.    Moses wrote that we need to turn to God instead of turning away from Him.  Moses went on to say that God was and is a merciful God.  Nothing surprises Him and so we can cry out to Him during those days of tribulation.  Are you feeling just a bit under the weather, or bothered by some relationship, or wondering why this or that took place?  When someone asks you how you are doing, do you think, "Do you really want to know?"  If so, then always remember that you can turn to God who just a prayer away, which certainly isn't very far.  God has already said that He will never leave us nor forsake us and He is merciful. We don't deserve it, but He is still merciful.  Turn to Him today.  Praise God today that He is always there and He always keeps His promises.